dosage calculation tool

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello everybody! I need some advise. My friends and I are starting clinicals next month and we are quite nervous about having to calculate dosage problems on the floor. Well, we found this site on the Internet that sells what is called "The Wheel". You can convert kg to lbs and calculate IV drip rates. Would this tool be handy to have or would it be safer to just calculate your dosage on a piece of paper? I am just concerned about safety and want to make sure that we will be able to come up with the correct dosage quickly if asked by the instructor or a nurse.

Thank you so much for your help! Silvia

Here is the Internet site:

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What if you lose your handy dandy cheat chart? It's better to learn how to do it on your own first. With practice, you will get a lot faster. I think instructors would rather see you work it out on your own than to use a chart. Our instructors wouldn't even let us use a calculator! If you're really set on using one, find out if it's allowed before you shell out the $$ for it. Good luck to you!!

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I'm with Emily_mom on this one. And you'll see that by doing it by yourself, soon you'll remember all the usual and/or important drip rates. Good luck on you clinicals!

;)

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Thanks, you are making a good point. Didn't think about having the tool and loosing it. Hmm, now I really feel like an idiot for even asking the question. I am already working on my dosage problems so I can be ready when the time comes. I guess it's not that hard and I have noticed that it's going faster than when I first started. I guess I am just stressing out. I will stick with the paper and pencil method. Thanks again.:)

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

to get thru nursing school, we had to show our calculations to prove to the instructors we KNEW how to figure these out w/o "help". better you learn the old-fashioned way as this provides a good knowledge base to build on later. just my opinion....

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In my job, I had to score an 80% out of 30 questions on a drug calculations test, or I wouldn't be considered for the job.

Lots of hospitals & agencies test you before you're hired. Just a "heads up" on that....

I found that dimensional analysis was the way to go for me, instead of memorizing a lot of formulas. Good Luck! :cool:

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PS After I figure an example, I was taught to go a couple steps further.

I estimate to "see if the answer makes sense." For instance, if I'm converting pounds to kilograms, I know 150 lbs will be around half that for kilograms......I think about 75....then I do the math and if it comes up nearly the same, (68.18kg) I feel ok about it.

Final test: have someone else check it. Especially if you have to mix medications.

(We used to have a doc who wanted us to give 80 mg of Solumed and it only came in a vial of 125 mg/2ml, for instance. I would definitely check that with someone else before I gave it.)

But really, once you get the hang of it, it's like riding a bicycle....:D

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Everybody, thank you so much for answering my post and for all the advise. You guys are great. Sleepyeyes, I started out with dimensional analysis but I now set everything up in proportions. I worked through a whole chapter in my book this morning and I was able to get them all done correctly. I feel much better already. :kiss

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Can anyone suggest a book for learning how to do dosage calculations?

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Math For Meds. by Anna M. Curren, RN and Laurie D. Munday, RN. My edition is old, but the info is still relevant, there's probably a newer edition out there.

Linda

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Hey sleepyeyes, I double-checked for you

?cc=80mg if 2cc

125/mg

=160/mg

125mg

=1.28 or 1.3cc

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Heehee, thanks, level2trauma! Made me think I was at work for a sec there! We really DO do it all, don't we? :chuckle

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